Call back for new
personal injury claims only

Leave your details to request a call back.

* Required fields

Name: *

Telephone No:*

What is it regarding:* New Personal Injury Claim Conveyancing Criminal Matter Employment Matter Wills Existing Case

Union member:* Yes No     

If you are a member of a trade union please select Yes otherwise please select No and then click Submit

12 January 2005

Driver wins compensation for goat crash

A train driver who suffered psychological injury after his train struck and killed a goat that had strayed on to the line has received £35,000 compensation for the shock and trauma and subsequent loss of pension and free/discounted travel.

The driver remains extremely distressed about the incident, which happened in 2000. It compounded the trauma he was already suffering following a suicide under his train on Valentine's Day the previous year. He suffered nightmares and flashbacks for months afterwards and was retired on ill health grounds, being unable to drive or travel by train.

Train drivers' union ASLEF backed the driver's compensation claim throughout.

Railtrack (now Network Rail) admitted liability for the incident caused by broken fencing on the line between Weymouth and London Waterloo. The goat was on the track between Dorchester South and Moreton.

Sarah Wright of ASLEF's lawyers Thompsons Solicitors said: "All too often we see cases of train drivers left with severe psychological trauma as a result of animals straying on to the line in front of them. They are usually powerless to prevent impact, death and injury. These incidents often result in drivers being off work for months and can end a career."